Patrick helped band a 10-pound bald eagle chick, so wildlife officials can continue to track its movements. The bird, one of two eaglets that were banded, was removed from its nest by Kurt Palmateer, an assistant fish culturist at the McLaughlin Fish Hatchery, who is referred to by state wildlife officials as their best tree climber.

While it wasn't Patrick's first time participating in the eagle chick banding, it was his first time getting nicked by an eagle talon. He has taken part in the eagle chick banding three times.

"They are magnificent . . . with very long, and very sharp talons," Patrick said. "It's incredible how delicate they feel .. . When they settle down, it actually feels quite amazing to have something that wild in your arms."

Media representatives and state officials traveled to Prescott Peninsula by boat for the banding.

Patrick held firmly on to the eagle chick as it received two bands - one state and one federal. The birds were lowered from their 3x5 nest in an 80-foot high white pine in canvas bags as their mother circled overheard. Palmateer grabbed the birds in the nest, placing them in the bags, which were lowered by ropes. The large, black birds were relatively docile once they were released from the bags.

Ralph E. Taylor, MassWildlife Connecticut Valley supervisor, instructed Patrick to hold on tightly to the bird during the banding.

Lisa A. Sullivan, wife of Richard K. Sullivan Jr., secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, helped band the second, 9-pound chick, known as the "feisty one." Both chicks are believed to be females because of their size. Taylor explained that the numbers on the bands can be seen with a good pair of binoculars.

Richard Sullivan, who has banded chicks before, said he wanted to give his wife the chance this time.

"I was happy to share," he said.

"It was really neat, amazing. It was so calm and I had the feisty one," Lisa Sullivan said.

Mary B. Griffin, commissioner of the state Department of Fish and Game, said there are approximately 40 eagle nests statewide. Eight are at Quabbin, but not all were successful this year, according to William E. Pula, Quabbin superintendent.

Griffin said the population is recovering, and noted they like the Quabbin because it has plenty of fish. Griffin said she hopes that one day, there will be so many bald eagles that they will not have to be on any kind of threatened species list at all. Bald eagles were downgraded from endangered status to threatened status last year.

The chicks that were banded are expected to leave the nest in about two weeks.

In all, four chicks were banded on Thursday. Wildlife officials headed to a second nest to continue banding.